Hello! I am very new to the hobby and am attempting to do resarch on what to put into my tank but can't seem to get a straight answer! Some websites say yes, some no so I've come to the "professionals" for help!

Right now I've got a 29 gallon freshwater tank that's been up and running a few months. Here's what I've got in it so far

I would love to add either some tiger barbs, an angel or two or some chiclids (there are a couple that are peaceful, right?) Any ideas on what I could add? How I'm doing? I'd like to get a fish or two that are a little larger like the gourami but I don't want to stress out the tank and overstock. I also hear angels can be aggressive, but not all the time. Same for tiger barbs. I'd love to hear what your opinions are on how I should go about stocking it.

Thanks so much! Any advice is much appreciated!!

Falina

04-17-2007 11:24 AM

a pair of blue rams would go in a 29g and are generally peaceful since you are keen on cichlids. only if they spawn they get agressive and spawning is rare.

not sure how they would get on with the gourami though. i get the feeling cichlids would annoy the gourami but im not sure as ive never kept gouramis.

note as well that rams like soft water so make sure your water is correct for them before getting any. theyre also best introduced into a fulyl cycled mature tank.

good luck with your tank

leifthebunny

04-17-2007 12:41 PM

I'd go with the South American cichlids such as apistogrammas. German Blue Rams are pretty placid as well. Angelfish aren't too bad if kept in schools of 3+ and are raised with the other fish in the tank. Geophagus will also tolerate the smaller fish and are pretty placid. The South American cichlids do prefer softer water, so I'd recommend setting drift wood in the tank. Just make sure it's well leeched so it's not turning the tank into a coffee pot. :P

Falina

04-17-2007 12:53 PM

lol yes - second the coffee pot comment. i have managed to get mine down to looking like a weak tea now thoguh :roll:

angels would get too big imo for a 29g tank

apisots stay really small though so i second that as well

Falina

04-17-2007 12:56 PM

Quote:

The South American cichlids do prefer softer water, so I'd recommend setting drift wood in the tank. Just make sure it's well leeched so it's not turning the tank into a coffee pot.

driftwood softens water?!?:!?!?!? is driftwood different from bogwood?

leifthebunny

04-17-2007 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by juliewiegand

angels would get too big imo for a 29g tank

They do like a bit of room.

Quote:

Originally Posted by juliewiegand

Quote:

The South American cichlids do prefer softer water, so I'd recommend setting drift wood in the tank. Just make sure it's well leeched so it's not turning the tank into a coffee pot.

driftwood softens water?!?:!?!?!? is driftwood different from bogwood?

thanks for that link. it seems that it is that tannins that soften the water so this wont be a problem once tannins have all leached out. phew! i have mollies and my water is wuite soft already. i cant afford it to soften furhter as i lost a molly recently and suspect the softness of the water to be the culprit.

sorry to boycott your post seo

i forgot about the tiger barbs. again since ive never had gouramis i cant say for definite but i strongly suspect they would pester your gourami. since gouramis can be territorial, this could not only mean that your gourami will be annoyed, but will also feel his/her territory threatened and may become agressive.

maybe somebody would be able to say for definite how these fish would behave with gouramis?

Lupin

04-17-2007 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by juliewiegand

i forgot about the tiger barbs. again since ive never had gouramis i cant say for definite but i strongly suspect they would pester your gourami. since gouramis can be territorial, this could not only mean that your gourami will be annoyed, but will also feel his/her territory threatened and may become agressive.

maybe somebody would be able to say for definite how these fish would behave with gouramis?

No tiger barbs in a tank with long-finned species, not even gouramis. Tiger barbs are nippy and will not spare anyone unless given plenty of space and more members of their own to establish pecking order among themselves. Still, I don't recommend tiger barbs with long-finned species no matter how big your tank is.;)

Quote:

Originally Posted by leifthebunny

Angelfish aren't too bad if kept in schools of 3+ and are raised with the other fish in the tank.

Problem is the OP owns a 29 gallons. Angelfish need a depth of 18 inches minimum and these fish are quite large, often reaching 6 inches in diameter.

The original stocking list does not have mid dwellers. Glass bloodfins and gouramis dwell the surface most of the time. Cardinal tetras are good options for the mid level as are rasboras.

seo

04-18-2007 08:56 AM

Thanks for all of the help! And ideas. I figured angels were out of the question since I had heard they get quite big. I was holding out hope on the tiger barbs though, the're so pretty! Plus, the gourami is fairly territorial so I'm not sure how the rams would do with him. He's a lot better in this tank than in the 10 gallon, but still gets a little upset if one of the tetras come to close. So I've got just a couple more questions if you all don't mind!

I love the idea of the rasboras for the mid level. Any specific kind? Should I get one or two, do they need groups to be happy?

Also, given that the gourami is already a little mean, should I get a second dwarf gourami for the tank? Is he mean because he's feeling threatened by the number of tetras? Or would this backfire and I'd have 2 bullys on the playground?

Last question- would a couple of dainos work well in this set up? I'd like to get maybe 4 or 5 more fish and want a nice, peaceful environment but something interesting to watch.

Thanks again guys! I can see why this can turn into an obsession! We started with a bowl and a goldfish from the fair last year and it's turned into quite the habit!

Falina

04-18-2007 10:50 AM

if you like tiger barbs then there is a type of barb which is smaller than the tiger barb and less agressive: pentoza barb, sometimes known as the 5 banded barb. the markings are extremely similar thoguh they are slightly slimmer in body shape. they are rarer as well but if you can find them theyd be a good choice rather than tiger barbs.

blue is the person to ask about rasboars - as far as i know they like to be in groups.

Quote:

Thanks again guys! I can see why this can turn into an obsession! We started with a bowl and a goldfish from the fair last year and it's turned into quite the habit!

i agree about the obsesion! my boyfriend sat me down recently to have a "serious talk" with me as he has noticed a decline in the amount of time and attention he gets since the fish have appeared on the scene :D